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Economic development quarterly report: Brink's commitment, demo‑rebuild activity and vacancy-rate context
Summary
Deputy Director Darren Harris reported that Brink's Monotronics will remain in Farmers Branch for 10 more years, staff completed 62 business visits last quarter, and the department noted that a few large vacant properties skew local vacancy rates.
Deputy Director of Economic Development Darren Harris presented the department’s quarterly update to the City of Farmers Branch Council on Oct. 8, highlighting a major tenant commitment, small-business programming, incentive activity and vacancy‑rate context.
Harris said Brink’s Monotronics committed to remain in the city for another 10 years while relocating to a new site that will keep its headquarters and sales tax base in Farmers Branch. “One of our big accomplishments for this quarter is the newest impact that’s created for Brink’s Monotronics. They are here for another 10 years, and they’ll be relocating to a new location and keeping their headquarters here and their sales tax in the city,” Harris said.
Harris reported 62 business visits in the most recent quarter, two façade grants and 12 demo‑rebuild incentives approved to date; he highlighted local promotional programs such as a business “passport” program that included 24 participating businesses and awarded a prize to a resident named Amber Riley. The department also hosted a healthcare recognition event and an annual golf tournament.
On vacancy rates, Harris told council that large vacant properties create outliers in the data: a now‑vacant 1.2 million‑square‑foot industrial building (the former Tuesday Morning facility) and roughly 310,000 square feet of office space (including the Brink’s building) substantially affect the city’s industrial and office vacancy percentages. Harris said bringing those properties back online would materially lower the city’s vacant‑space percentages compared with regional peers.
Future goals Harris listed include increasing business retention visits to 200 annually (with 50 visits to top small and large employers), collecting meaningful survey data from businesses, expanding LinkedIn presence and hosting stakeholder networking events with partners such as Metrocrest and Dallas College. Harris asked for council direction to continue those efforts; councilmembers praised the report and asked that the department present regularly to council.
Councilman Reed and others complimented the efficiency and impact of the department’s recent work; Councilman Neal asked for the department to present on a recurring basis. Councilwoman Villafranca requested outreach to promote façade grants to older commercial areas.
